Chapter 46
Chapter Forty-Six
Naomi
The crisp evening air carried the faint scent of pine and woodsmoke as we walked hand in hand through the park. The sun had just dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in soft hues of pink and orange. It was the kind of night that made the world feel quiet, as if it was holding its breath just for us.
Hudson had been uncharacteristically quiet all day. Not the brooding kind of quiet—just thoughtful, as if he was turning something over in his mind. I’d caught him glancing at me a few times, his lips curving into that small, secretive smile that always made my chest tighten.
“What’s on your mind?” I asked, nudging him gently with my shoulder.
“Nothing,” he said, his tone light. “Just enjoying the moment.”
I raised an eyebrow, but his expression gave nothing away. “Uh-huh. Sure.”
He laughed softly, pulling me closer as we rounded a bend in the path. “You’ll see.”
The park opened up into a clearing, and I stopped short when I saw what he’d done. Strings of fairy lights hung from the low branches of the surrounding trees, their soft glow casting the space in a warm, golden light. A small table was set up near the center, draped in white linen and adorned with candles and wildflowers.
My breath caught, and I turned to Hudson, my eyes wide. “What is this?”
“Something I’ve been planning for a while,” he said, his voice soft. “Come on.”
He led me to the table, pulling out a chair for me like a perfect gentleman. I sank into it, my heart racing as he took the seat across from me. The moment felt surreal, like something out of a dream.
“I wanted to do something special for you,” he said, his gaze steady. “For us.”
“You already do that every day,” I said, my voice trembling slightly.
He smiled, reaching across the table to take my hand. “This is different.”
We talked for a while, the conversation easy and warm. He asked about my day at the community center, about the new art program we were developing, and I asked about his latest project at work. It felt like any other night, but there was an undercurrent of something more—something I couldn’t quite name.
When the meal was finished and the plates were cleared, Hudson stood, holding out his hand. “Come with me.”
I let him pull me to my feet, my heart pounding as he led me toward the edge of the clearing. The fairy lights cast a soft glow around us, and the world felt impossibly still.
“Naomi,” he said, turning to face me. His hands rested lightly on my shoulders, his gaze locked on mine. “I’ve been thinking a lot about how far we’ve come. About everything we’ve been through. And I know one thing for sure.”
“What’s that?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
“That I don’t want to face another day without you,” he said, his voice steady and filled with emotion. “You’re my anchor, my light, my home. And I want to build the rest of my life with you.”
Before I could respond, he dropped to one knee, pulling a small box from his pocket. My breath caught as he opened it, revealing a simple but stunning diamond ring that sparkled in the soft light.
“Naomi Ray,” he said, his voice trembling slightly. “Will you marry me?”
The world seemed to tilt as I stared at him, my heart swelling with so much emotion I thought it might burst. Tears blurred my vision, but I managed a shaky laugh as I nodded.
“Yes,” I said, my voice breaking. “Yes, Hudson, I’ll marry you.”
His face lit up, and he slipped the ring onto my finger before standing and pulling me into his arms. I buried my face in his chest, my tears soaking into his shirt as he held me tightly.
“I love you,” he murmured against my hair, his voice filled with warmth. “More than anything.”
“I love you too,” I said, my voice muffled but sure.
As we stood there, wrapped in each other’s arms, the fairy lights twinkling around us, I felt a sense of peace I hadn’t thought possible. This was it. Our future, our forever. And I couldn’t wait to start it with him.